Methods and procedures for ligament repair

Abstract

Methods and devices for the repair of a ruptured ligament using a scaffold device are provided. Aspects of the invention, may include a scaffold attached by a suture to an anchor. In aspects of the invention, the anchor may be secured to a bone near or at the repair site.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for repair of a ligament exposed to synovial fluid comprising:
 an anchor capable of forming a stable attachment to a first bone, 
 a suture having a first end and a second end, the second end being attachable to a ruptured end of a ligament, wherein the ligament is configured to be connected to a second bone, and 
 a scaffold, wherein the scaffold consists essentially of a porous sponge scaffold, wherein the scaffold is threaded onto the suture, and the anchor is attached only indirectly to the scaffold. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the ligament is an ACL and wherein the scaffold allows cell ingrowth. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is selected from the group consisting of a screw, a barb, a helical anchor, a staple, a clip, a snap, and arivet. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , where the scaffold further comprises a repair material. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 4 , where the repair material is a platelet. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 4 , where the repair material is plasma. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , where the scaffold is bigger than a repair site of the ligament.